The Unbearable Elegance of Equitation

In Chinese culture the image of a man riding a horse is often associated with a nomad riding in the grasslands, rather than the middle-class image that is prominent in many Western countries of a jockey in a stylish riding jacket and boots. But the situation is gradually changing. With people in Shanghai having more spending power than ever before, this stylish sport is becoming more affordable and attractive.

Romarique Paquot has been riding horses since she was three. Born in Metz, a beautiful rural region in the northeast of France, she used to spend at least two hours a day with horses. “My house was situated between the valley and the forest, so after school I usually rode there,” she says. Paquot took frequent part in competitions and even went on to become a regional champion, winning the Championship of Lorraine in 2001. But when she moved to Shanghai, it was extremely difficult for her to find a place to improve her equestrian skills.

“I used to work for The Shanghai Premier Polo club when I first arrived here; it was the first one in China. And unfortunately when I did arrive I came to discover that this industry is rather undeveloped. Almost all horses are Chinese, as according to Chinese veterinary law, once horses are imported, they cannot leave the country. That was the reason why in 2008, during the Olympics, all of the equestrian competitions were held in Hong Kong.”

However a change has started to take place in the last few months. “Australia, New Zealand and Europe have now started to export horses to China, and as such, this industry has begun to flourish and attract more and more foreign investors' attention. It's a good investment for developing real-estate projects as well”, says Romarique. “Developers building golf clubs or polo clubs encourage real-estate developers to buy property in this kind of areas during the early stages, because they recognise the prestige attached to equitation.”

One place that has seen a boom of interest in the past few months is the Jialiang Equestrian Club, situated in a remote area of Pudong. It was first established in 1980, and the owner, Mr Wang Jialiang, has more than thirty horses for a varying ability of riders. “We have three types of horses: imported, domestic, and mixed, says Qu Luyan, who has been working at the club for the last five years. “The imported horses are mainly old race horses that came from Hong Kong. Our domestic horses are much shorter and smaller, and their step is much steadier, making them easier for beginners to ride. Mixed horses are those which have been raised here, and they have a varying range of abilities.”

The statistics for members of the club are perhaps a surprising fifty-fifty split, despite the club having been open for over thirty years, and when asked why there hasn’t been more of an influx of Chinese investing in this sport and activity long term, Qu explains. “In Chinese culture the attitude to horses and horseback riding is a little bit different. We know what the horse is, we know how to use it, but primarily we have historically used it solely as a means of transportation without paying any attention to the details of position and elegancy. Equitation is still rather new to us and we still need to get used to it”.

But if Shanghainese Qu’s relationship with  horses is anything to go by, there is indication that the demographics are changing. And while Beijing might currently be the leading city for horse enthusiasts, with two race courses and over 50 clubs (making up 50% of the total in China), the demand of both those with new spending power as well as wealthy expatriates to take up the hobby or sport in Shanghai means that we can expect to see the equestrian scene expanding drastically in the coming years.

Still, Qu points to the fact that experts and novices alike can take part in horse riding, as long as they have a good grasp of endurance and composure. “It obviously depends on the desire to master the sport, but children, for example, pick up everything very quickly; usually ten lessons are enough and they are already galloping. Most of the expatriates who bring their children to the club want them to learn, either because they used to have horses back home or at least had experience in horseback riding.”

And as for local Chinese? “A lot of them are largely just curious,” she laughs, which is as good a reason as any.

Shanghai Jialiang Equestrian Club. 1858 Sanlu Lu, Pudong. Tel: (21) 6411 0049. Web: www.jialiang.com/english/horse.asp

For individuals

Chinese instructor - RMB 3,200 / 10 lessons (45 min); English speaking instructor - RMB 3,900 / 10 lessons (45 min).

For kids:  Chinese instructor - RMB 2,400 / 10 lessons (30 min); English speaking instructor - RMB 2,900 / 10 lessons (30 min)

Class (3-5 people)

Chinese instructor - RMB 2,600 / 10 lessons (45 min); English speaking instructor - RMB 3,200 / 10 lessons (45 min).

For kids:  Chinese instructor - RMB 1,900 / 10 lessons (45 min); English speaking instructor - RMB 2,400 / 10 lessons (45 min)